Plan to redesign flag divides Mozambicans
August 15, 2005 Edition 1
Maputo: A controversy has divided Mozambique over a plan to redesign the flag and the national emblem, which sports an AK-47 assault rifle, to reflect the country's return to peace, with critics blasting it as a waste of money and time.
The Mozambican parliament on June 15 approved a law proposed by an ad hoc committee on the proposed changes and on the same day launched a three-month national competition to come up with new designs for both the flag and the national emblem.
The new symbols should "reflect the blood spilt by the Mozambican people in the war for independence as well as national unity, peace, democracy, social justice and the wealth of the nation", it said.
Mozambique gained independence from Portugal 30 years ago before being wracked by a brutal 16-year civil war, which cost a million lives between 1976 and 1992. But the plan has divided political parties and civil groups, including the governing Frelimo.
"We cannot change the flag and inflame political passions in the process. The flag represents one nation, one people, one state," said Edson Macuacua, a high-ranking Frelimo official.
Fernando Mazanga, spokesman for the former rebel Renamo, now the main opposition party, said: "The redesigning of the symbols should reflect the institution of democracy, which sadly came late to Mozambique."
Carlos Jeque, a former independent presidential candidate, said: "The flag and the national emblem were designed during an era of single-party rule. Today the context has changed and the emblem could do with a revamp but the colours of the flag - yellow, white, black, green and red - should not be tampered with."
There are more than 10 symbols in the national emblem, which is emblazoned on coins and currency notes. They include an AK-47, a book, a rake, the sun, a mountain, a map of the country, a rice stalk, maize and the sea. - Sapa-AFP
